Diack Re-elected As Iaaf President

Senegal’s Lamine Diack, who has guided world athletics through the ups and downs of spectator interest and the global financial crisis, has been overwhelmingly re-elected president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Diack received 173 of 200 votes at the governing body’s congress in balloting three days before the start of athletics’ World Championships in Daegu.

The 78-year-old was expected to make the four-year term his final one after serving as the federation’s top official since November 1999.

Diack, the former Dakar mayor, came to power after the death of IAAF leader Primo Nebiolo.

He has seen the global decline of spectator interest in the sport because of issues like doping and the rise again through the performances of Jamaican world record holder Usain Bolt.

‘We are told athletics is a failing discipline … but I do not believe so,’ Diack said in opening remarks to the congress before his re-election.

Diack admitted there would be challenges and to assist him, the IAAF announced French administrator Essar Gabriel would join the organisation as its new general secretary.

Like many organisations, the IAAF also has been challenged by the financial crisis, needing to cut $20 million in expenses for the three period beginning last year.

Diack, an outspoken advocate of retaining London’s Olympic stadium for athletics, also has presided over the creation of the Diamond League a global series of one-day meetings created to boost spectator interest.

The series kicked off with high anticipation but has met with mixed results after injuries to key athletes like Bolt and Ethiopian distance record holder Kenenisa Bekele.